I am not sure my post will be worthwhile because our criteria seems so different, based on your selections.
My criteria is not purely based on technical polish, but emphasizes much more the vocalist's ability to immerse the listener into his/her own experience, into the emotional/conceptual experience and content being conveyed. And also emphasizes very singular talents, vocalists that sound and use their instrument in ways that no one else can/does. Most of your selections are technically very good and inarguable in that regard, but (imo) many of them don't really posses the theatrical/dramatic abilities (or just didn't use them) necessary to accomplish such a transforming experience. For, instance, I find Mercury fairly superficial despite his enormous talents. Beyonce could hardly be more superficial and less creative (with only rare exceptions in her work). Some (many?) of the selections probably could've done more of what I'm referring to, but unfortunately consumed their careers in "standards" and overly rigid song formats that inhibited such potential expressiveness.
In any case, if you do find yourself curious at such adventurous vocalists, the likes of which you will never experience anywhere else, I would add the following (not necessarily in order):
Tim Buckley (Lorca, Starsailor, Happy Sad, Goodbye and Hello, Blue Afternoon) <--greatest "Rock" vocalist of all time
Diamanda Galas (Litanies of Satan, Diamanda Galas) <-- at your own risk, not for the faint of heart ... If you want to hear her rendition of more standard fare, she performed (by far) the greatest version of Gloomy Sunday in history, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MWlgX0dDuo
Van Morrison (Astral Weeks, Veedon Fleece, etc) <--Don't know how he isn't on your list, as he seems to meet what you're looking for, but is vastly superior to almost all your selections imo
Nico (Desertshore, Marble Index, Velvet Underground and Nico) <--wholly unique to rock history
Lisa Gerrard (Check out her work with Dead Can Dance, several amazing vocal performances)
Enya (Watermark, etc)
Robert Wyatt (Rock Bottom, End of an Ear, etc) <--again, wholly unique to rock history ... sounds both happy and sad simultaneously, both pained and meditative ... inimitable ...
Captain Beefheart (Trout Mask Replica, etc) <-- I doubt you'll agree but very few singers can "become" so many states of mind, so many psychological distortions of personality ... He is a force of nature
Mark Stewart (Pop Group: Y, solo works, etc) <-- different in sound, but similar description as the above
David Thomas (Pere Ubu, etc) <--ditto
Sinead O'Connor (The Lion and the Cobra is a much better example of her extraordinary talents than the album you chose)
Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea especially) <--very few are more emotionally invested or lose themselves as entirely in their songs. Warning: he doesn't give a damn about polish, he is too swept up and possessed by what he is singing to care about delivering a perfect melodic line or what-have-you
Mick Jagger (Exile On Main Street and Sticky Fingers especially are the epitome of his style)
Tom Waits (Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones, many other songs/albums)
Nick Cave (From Her To Eternity, The Good Son, many other songs/albums)
Grace Slick <-- surprised not to see her, though I suppose, even though popular, is quite outside the box
Mary Margaret O'Hara (Miss America is an unbelievable display of a unique synthesis of styles and her incredible talents)
Janis Joplin <-- Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Joni Mitchell <--Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins)
Yo yo yo imma come in the thread some time this week with my favourite rap vocalists and why. My descriptions of (fo example) slick rick and scarface and dizzee finna blow minds. They're better vocalists than your dads favourite singer. Im drunk but dont discount rappers as great vocalists. _________________ 2021 in full effect. Come drop me some recs. Y'all know what I like.
I am not sure my post will be worthwhile because our criteria seems so different, based on your selections.
My criteria is not purely based on talent/technical polish, but emphasizes much more the vocalist's ability to immerse the listener into his/her own experience, into the emotional/conceptual experience and content being conveyed. And also emphasizes very singular talents, vocalists that sound and use their instrument in ways that no one else can/does. Most of your selections are technically very good and inarguable in that regard, but (imo) many of them don't really posses the theatrical/dramatic abilities (or just didn't use them) necessary to accomplish such a transforming experience. For, instance, I find Mercury fairly superficial despite his enormous talents. Beyonce could hardly be more superficial and less creative (with only rare exceptions in her work). Some (many?) of the selections probably could've done more of what I'm referring to, but unfortunately consumed their careers in "standards" and overly rigid song formats that inhibited such potential expressiveness.
In any case, if you do find yourself curious at such adventurous vocalists, the likes of which you will never experience anywhere else, I would add the following (not necessarily in order):
Tim Buckley (Lorca, Starsailor, Happy Sad, Goodbye and Hello, Blue Afternoon) <--greatest "Rock" vocalist of all time
Diamanda Galas (Litanies of Satan, Diamanda Galas) <-- at your own risk, not for the faint of heart ... If you want to hear her rendition of more standard fare, she performed (by far) the greatest version of Gloomy Sunday in history, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MWlgX0dDuo
Van Morrison (Astral Weeks, Veedon Fleece, etc) <--Don't know how he isn't on your list, as he seems to meet what you're looking for, but is vastly superior to almost all your selections imo
Nico (Desertshore, Marble Index, Velvet Underground and Nico) <--wholly unique to rock history
Lisa Gerrard (Check out her work with Dead Can Dance, several amazing vocal performances)
Enya (Watermark, etc)
Robert Wyatt (Rock Bottom, End of an Ear, etc) <--again, wholly unique to rock history ... sounds both happy and sad simultaneously, both pained and meditative ... inimitable ...
Captain Beefheart (Trout Mask Replica, etc) <-- I doubt you'll agree but very few singers can "become" so many states of mind, so many psychological distortions of personality ... He is a force of nature
Mark Stewart (Pop Group: Y, solo works, etc) <-- different in sound, but similar description as the above
David Thomas (Pere Ubu, etc) <--ditto
Sinead O'Connor (The Lion and the Cobra is a much better example of her extraordinary talents than the album you chose)
Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea especially) <--very few are more emotionally invested or lose themselves as entirely in their songs. Warning: he doesn't give a damn about polish, he is too swept up and possessed by what he is singing to care about delivering a perfect melodic line or what-have-you
Mick Jagger (Exile On Main Street and Sticky Fingers especially are the epitome of his style)
Tom Waits (Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones, many other songs/albums)
Nick Cave (From Her To Eternity, The Good Son, many other songs/albums)
Grace Slick <-- surprised not to see her, though I suppose, even though popular, is quite outside the box
Mary Margaret O'Hara (Miss America is an unbelievable display of a unique synthesis of styles and her incredible talents)
Janis Joplin <-- Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Joni Mitchell <--Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins)
Anyway, there's many more, but I'll leave it at that, fwiw
What I think of as the "best" are those rare few who can do both at a very high level: exhibit the qualities you emphasize (uniqueness, emotional immersion) and display a high degree of technical vocal mastery.
The one on your list which I think epitomizes this (and I was certainly remiss in not including her on my list) is Grace Slick.
I am not sure my post will be worthwhile because our criteria seems so different, based on your selections.
My criteria is not purely based on talent/technical polish, but emphasizes much more the vocalist's ability to immerse the listener into his/her own experience, into the emotional/conceptual experience and content being conveyed. And also emphasizes very singular talents, vocalists that sound and use their instrument in ways that no one else can/does. Most of your selections are technically very good and inarguable in that regard, but (imo) many of them don't really posses the theatrical/dramatic abilities (or just didn't use them) necessary to accomplish such a transforming experience. For, instance, I find Mercury fairly superficial despite his enormous talents. Beyonce could hardly be more superficial and less creative (with only rare exceptions in her work). Some (many?) of the selections probably could've done more of what I'm referring to, but unfortunately consumed their careers in "standards" and overly rigid song formats that inhibited such potential expressiveness.
In any case, if you do find yourself curious at such adventurous vocalists, the likes of which you will never experience anywhere else, I would add the following (not necessarily in order):
Tim Buckley (Lorca, Starsailor, Happy Sad, Goodbye and Hello, Blue Afternoon) <--greatest "Rock" vocalist of all time
Diamanda Galas (Litanies of Satan, Diamanda Galas) <-- at your own risk, not for the faint of heart ... If you want to hear her rendition of more standard fare, she performed (by far) the greatest version of Gloomy Sunday in history, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MWlgX0dDuo
Van Morrison (Astral Weeks, Veedon Fleece, etc) <--Don't know how he isn't on your list, as he seems to meet what you're looking for, but is vastly superior to almost all your selections imo
Nico (Desertshore, Marble Index, Velvet Underground and Nico) <--wholly unique to rock history
Lisa Gerrard (Check out her work with Dead Can Dance, several amazing vocal performances)
Enya (Watermark, etc)
Robert Wyatt (Rock Bottom, End of an Ear, etc) <--again, wholly unique to rock history ... sounds both happy and sad simultaneously, both pained and meditative ... inimitable ...
Captain Beefheart (Trout Mask Replica, etc) <-- I doubt you'll agree but very few singers can "become" so many states of mind, so many psychological distortions of personality ... He is a force of nature
Mark Stewart (Pop Group: Y, solo works, etc) <-- different in sound, but similar description as the above
David Thomas (Pere Ubu, etc) <--ditto
Sinead O'Connor (The Lion and the Cobra is a much better example of her extraordinary talents than the album you chose)
Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea especially) <--very few are more emotionally invested or lose themselves as entirely in their songs. Warning: he doesn't give a damn about polish, he is too swept up and possessed by what he is singing to care about delivering a perfect melodic line or what-have-you
Mick Jagger (Exile On Main Street and Sticky Fingers especially are the epitome of his style)
Tom Waits (Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones, many other songs/albums)
Nick Cave (From Her To Eternity, The Good Son, many other songs/albums)
Grace Slick <-- surprised not to see her, though I suppose, even though popular, is quite outside the box
Mary Margaret O'Hara (Miss America is an unbelievable display of a unique synthesis of styles and her incredible talents)
Janis Joplin <-- Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Joni Mitchell <--Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins)
Anyway, there's many more, but I'll leave it at that, fwiw
What I think of as the "best" are those rare few who can do both at a very high level: exhibit the qualities you emphasize (uniqueness, emotional immersion) and display a high degree of technical vocal mastery.
The one on your list which I think epitomizes this (and I was certainly remiss in not including her on my list) is Grace Slick.
I would agree that this can be even more extraordinary. It also depends how one defines technical mastery.
I mean, all of these exhibit unique traits of technical mastery. I can assure you it is impossible to sing like Jeff Mangum (try it, try holding the the melodies and lines like he does amidst such forceful vocalizations! It will seem "diaphragmically" impossible, to coin a word!). But I assume you mean, within your criteria for "technical mastery", more technically "polished" right? That being the case, imo, Tim Buckley is the ultimate example of both worlds. Grace Slick, too, as you mentioned, and of course Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Elizabeth Frazer, Lisa Gerrard, Sinead O'Connor, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Enya... Also, you might be surprised how "polished" most of the others can sound when they want to (including Beefheart!). _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Last edited by AfterHours on 04/08/2017 20:33; edited 3 times in total
Also, just a minor point, but I edited my initial post to read: "My criteria is not purely based on technical polish..."
whereas before (including in Fischman's quote) it read "not purely based on talent/technical polish". First one is correct, second one is misworded. Shouldn't have implied there is less talent involved. Just for some maybe not the traditional "pop/soul/R & B" music idea of talent. _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
3-10. Jeff Buckley, Eddie Vedder, Michael Kiske, David Bowie, Daniel Gildenlow, Roy Orbison, Brandon Flowers, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, David Coverdale (there's more than 8 here but these aren't ranked so I couldn't decide).
Only Mercury and Perry are high and above, I'd have to think about others.
Best vocal albums is an interesting topic and I will think about it before I come up with some choices. _________________ All time
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